Duplicating machine



- April 1, 1947. FORD 2,418,341

DUPLICATING MAQHINE Filed June 15. 1944 INYEHTOR Fran K Ron cdd Fwd Q. ATTORNEY- Patented Apr. 1, 1947 DUPLICATIN G MACHINE Frank Ronald Ford,

Application June 15 Sparkbrook, Birmingham, England 1944, Serial No. 540,483

In Great Britain March 17, 1943 1 Claim.

This invention relates to duplicating machines, and refers more particularly to machines of the kind having a cylinder to which is clamped a master sheet bearing in reverse scrip the matter to be reproduced, a pressure roller parallel to the cylinder, and a moistening device by which the copysheets can be moistened before reaching the nip between the cylinder and the pressure roller where they are pressed into contact with the master sheet as they pass through the machine.

In such machines, the moistening device usually comprises a moistening pad or the like and a supporting surface or damping bar, the copy sheets being passed between these two members in pressure contact with the pad and one of such members being moved away from the other once in each revolution of the cylinder to allow a fresh copy of sheet to reach the nip between the pressure roller and the cylinder. Usually the moment at which the moistening members separate is indicated by the operation of a check device which resists rotation of the cylinder. When the latter reaches a predetermined angular position.

The check device is conveniently set to operate when the leading edge of the master sheet on the cylinder is approaching, and near to, the nip between the cylinder and the pressure roller.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved or simplified construction of machine.

According to the present invention, the check device and the moving member of the moistening device are mechanically connected,- so as to be operable simultaneously by a single actuating member, the moving member aforesaid being separated from the stationary moistening member to allow insertion of a copy sheet at the moment when the rotation of the cylinder is checked, and the return movement of the moistening member taking place automatically when the rotation of the cylinder is resumed or continued.

The check device may be of known form incorporating a disc concentric with the cylinder and arranged at one end thereof, a spring-pressure roller engaging the circular periphery of this disc and at each revolution entering a notch in such periphery so as to check the rotation of the cylinder without forming a positive stop, the angular position of this notch in relationrto the cylinder being such that the checking action occurs when the leading edge of the master sheet is approaching, and is near to,,the line of contact between the cylinder and the pressure roller.

In applying the present invention to such an arrangement, the roller co-cperating with the disc is mounted for rotation in a bracket on an oscillating lever which is pivoted to the frame of the machine, a link connecton being provided between this oscillating lever and the moving member of the moistening device.

This link connection may be such thatrelative movement is possible between the link and the lever, such movement being under the control of a light spring. The link may, for instance, pass through a clearance hole in the lever, and at one side of the lever may be provided with an adjustable abutment, while at the opposite side of the lever a light spring acts between the latter and a second adjustable abutment on the link. The end of the link remote from the spring may be connected to an oscillating damping bar adapted to press the copy sheets against the moistening pad.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more readily carried .into practice, I have appended hereto drawings illustrating the same, wherein Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevation of a duplicating machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine. 1

Figure 3 is a side view, to an enlarged scale, showing the arrangement of the moistening de;- vice and its operating means in relation to the cylinder and pressure rollerof the machine, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing one side of the moistening device.

In the drawings the invention is shown applied to a duplicating machine of the kind in which the pressure roller 5 is disposed below the cylinder 6, the latter being provided with a clip 1 whereby the leading edge of a master sheet may be secured thereto and both the pressure roller and the cylinder being mounted for rotation between spaced side frames 8 which are connected by tie-bars 9.

In front of the nip roller 5 and cylinder I 0 between the pressure 6 is mounted a moistening device comprising a liquid reservoir II, and a moistening pad [2 to which liquid is conveyed by wicks (not shown) or other means, thispad l2 being disposed within a suitable holder I3 arranged transversely of the machine.

Copy sheets, such as M, fed in from a feed table l5, pass beneaththe pad holder l3 and are pressed against the exposed underside ofthepad i2 by means of a damping bar It, so that the copy sheets M are moistened on their upper'sides.

Formed on or provided at one end of the cylinder 6 is a concentric disc l1 having a substantially semi-circular notch I8 in its periphery.

- The check device associated with the machine comprises a roller l9 mounted in a bracket 20 of U section which is secured to the underside of aswinging lever 2|, one end of the latter being pivoted at 22 to the adjacent side frame 8 of the machine.

The roller I9 is pressed against the periphery of the disc H by means of a spring plunger acting on the lever 2| and this plunger may consist of a pin 23 sliding in a clearance hole provided in one of the tie-bars 9 or in a small bracket attached to one of the side frames 8. A spring 24 on this pin 23 is compressed between the une the nuts 39; positively'separates the damping derside of the tie-bar 9 or bracket and a nut 25 engaging a screw-thread 26 on the pin 22, so that the pressure exerted on the lever 2! is adjustable.

The angular position of the notch in relation to the cylinder 6 is such that th'e'r'oller' l9 enters the notch and checks the cylinderwhen the clip I is approaching and close to the nip Jpbetween the cylinder 6 and pressure roller 5.

At its free end the swinging lever M is provided with a clearance hole 28 through which can slide a link 21, this latter conveniently being of circular section for the greater part of itslength and having its lower end pivotally, connected to the damping bar it,

Preferably the damping bar [6 takes the form of a metal strip, which is arranged, for pivotal in reme t about anaxis pa allel to, and adia- Oi of ts o i ud n d es; f r exam- 91a he a ma be rovide at e ch end with apes 2Q whi h enters a hole it! or recess in. a

4 acket 31 secured to the underside of the pad ad er 1,3,-

The free edge of the damping bar it may be bevelled, asat32, for engagement with the undersides of the copy sheets 14, and the link 21 may be connected to one end of the bar is adjacent its free edge.

In the convenient arrangement shown, the ew r end of the ink is flattened and of hook- -lil e form as at 3', so that when necessary, it can readily be disengaged from a pivot pin ,or screw ggl projectingirom the end of the damping bar.

The'hookedend 33 ofthe link 27 may be formed by shaping the metal so that the hook opening has anjentrance portion 35 extending parallel with the axis of thelink at one side thereof and an inner portion 36 which extends at right angles towards the centre line of the link, this inner por- 'tionpi'the opening being adapted normally tore: peive the pivot pin or screw 34 on the dampins r-I16.

The end of the link 21 which passes through the clearance hole 2-8 in the lever 21 is threaded, as-at 38, and is provided with an adjustable abutmerit-adapted to engage the underside of the lever 2|, which abutment may take the form of a pair of nuts 29.

4.005613 mounted on the link '21 is a washer idengaging the upper side of the lever 21, and alight spring M embracing the link 21 is compressed between this washerdeand a pair of lock nuts 42atth1eupper end of the link, these look nuts forming a, second adjustable abutment.

It will be understood that, while the-roller I9 onthe leverjZl is engaging the circular periphery of the disc H (that is to say; throughout the greater :partof the revolution of the cylinder 6,)

the -spring-loaded link 2'! connecting the lever 2| tothe damping bar 1$ keeps the bevelled edge 32 of the latter raised-so that the copy sheet It under treatment is maintained in light pressure contact with the moistening pad l2-as it passes to the nip I 0.

As the clip I securing the leading edge of the mastersheet to the cylinder .5 approaches closely toithe nip iii, the appropriate momentior intro- I8 aforesaid in the disc i1 allows the duction of' a fresh copy sheet is indicated by th operation of the check device.

7 The entry of the roller L9 into the notch l8 lever 21 to move downwardly under the pressure of the spring-loaded pin 23, whereupon the link 21, acted upon by the free end of the lever 2| through the medium of Obviously, if desired, there may be a check device at each end of the cylinder 6, and the two swinging levers ,2! associated with such device may be connected as above described to opposite ends of the damping bar It.

What I claim then is:

A dupli at a h e ceme tin a r id frame, an impression cylinder rotatably mounted in said frame, means for securing one edge oiga master sheet to said cylinder, a pressure roller adapted to bring copy sheets into contact with the master sheet on said cylinder, a stationary moistening pad, means for supplying liquid to said pad, a dampin bar between which and said pad said copy sheets pass before reaching, the

nip between said cylinder and said pressureroller, said damping bar being movable into and out of a position in which it presses said copy sheets against said pad, a disc arranged to rotate with said cylinder and disposed atone end there.- of, a lever pivoted to said frame, a spring, press:- ing said lever towards the periphery of said ,disc,

a roller carried by said lever, said-roller contactpermit application of both a push and .a pull to said damping bar, spaced adjustable abutments on said link at opposite sides of said lever, said lever acting on one of said abutments so as'to positively separate said damping bar from said pad when said roller enters said notchto permit a fresh copy sheet to be fed into the machine and a light spring interposed between said lever and. the other of said a'butn'ients, said leverafter resuming its normal position on further rotation of said cylinder producing adjustable resilient pressure contact between said damping bar and said pad through the medium of sai'd'light spring.

FRANK RONALDiFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record' in the file of this patent: V

ED ufism-TEN S.

Number Name Date 2,221,634 Ford IT0V. 12, I940 2,229,553 Morris Jan. 21,1941 2,237,548 Copeland et al. Apr. '8, 94 1 1,982,0l-7 User Nov, '27, 193 1:

FOREIGNPATENTS;

' Number Country Date 543,540 Great Britain r e Mar. 25,1942

633,097 France ru h-fing r.22,4927 

